LEARNING TARGET

I can identify and explain the causes of the American Revolution.

CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (1775 TO 1781)

• The country of Great Britain/England was trying to control the 13 colonies.

• In 1763 America wasn’t its own country. The 13 colonies belonged to the empire of Britain/England and King George III.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (1754-1763)

• The French and their Native American friends were fighting with the British and colonists for land in the Ohio River Valley.

• The British finally won (with help from the colonists).

• War = debt….

• King George III & parliament realized they were running out of money, so….

PROCLAMATION LINE OF 1763

• Colonists can’t travel west of the Appalachian Mountains because:

• Colonists went into uncharted territory, causing conflict with Native Americans.

• These conflicts hurt trade = cost the British $$$

• Very few Colonists obeyed the proclamation.

Proclamation Line

THE SUGAR ACT (1763)

• The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act. This law taxed the Colonists when they purchased molasses and sugar.

• Wasn’t this tax fair? After all, the British defeating the French and Natives would help the 13 Colonies with their trade and economy.

Yum!! sugar + molasses = cookies!

“TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION”

• Colonists were being taxed by the British Parliament, which was 3,000 miles away!

• No one from the 13 Colonies was in the British Parliament. So, colonists weren’t able to vote on laws that affected them…

• James Otis and Sam Adams came up with the slogan, “No Taxation without Representation.”

• The Colonists decided to “boycott” British goods to try and force the British to get rid of the taxes.

THE STAMP ACT (1765)

• Colonists had to buy a stamp (a tax) on any paper item they purchased, such as newspapers, licenses, pamphlets and playing cards.

• Soon, the Sons of Liberty would form.

• They would “boycott” (refuse to buy) British goods.

• Because of the “boycotts,” the British Parliament would repeal (cancel) the Stamp Act.

THE TOWNSHEND ACTS (1767)

• British Parliament decided to tax the Colonists on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea.

• Sons of Liberty continued to boycott and scare tax collectors.

• The Daughters of Liberty boycotted by using fabric to make clothes from America and not from Great Britain.

• The Sons of Liberty would attack tax collector’s homes.

• The British would send in Redcoats (British soldier who wore…..you guessed it: red coats) to keep order in the Colonies.

• This would go against the agreement that no Redcoats would be in the Colonies unless it was during war.

THE BOSTON MASSACRE(MARCH 5TH, 1770)

• British Troops (Redcoats) were now in the colonies and this angered the Colonists.

• Redcoats were only supposed to be stationed in the colonies during times of war.

• Colonists began harassing a Redcoat in Boston, MA.• More Redcoats showed up and soon there was a mob of

Colonists shouting insults and throwing snowballs at the Redcoats.

• Someone yelled “fire” and the Redcoats shot into the crowd killing 5 Colonists, including Crispus Attucks.

• Crispus Attucks was an African American & Native American man who is considered to be the first person to die for American freedom.

• The Redcoats were found not guilty (SHOCKER!) but many Colonists were still angry with the British.

• How would you like it if 4000 troops were walking the streets of Covington to make sure you “behave?”

THE TEA ACT (1773)• To keep tension low, British Parliament repealed

(cancelled) all of the Townshend Acts, but kept the tax on tea.

• Again, Colonists hated the idea that the British Parliament passed a new tax on the Colonists without the Colonists consent (agreeing to it).

• This is another example of “Taxation without Representation.”

• Does this seem fair that Colonists weren’t able to vote on laws that affected them?

THE BOSTON TEA PARTY(DECEMBER 16TH, 1773)

• Sons of Liberty (Colonists) snuck onto three British ships in the Boston Harbor disguised as Native Americans and dumped 342 barrels of British tea into the harbor.

• They did this to protest the Tea Act.

• The British Government would respond with the Intolerable Acts.

• Is this a form of vandalism and

destruction of property?

THE INTOLERABLE ACTS (1774)• The new British prime minister was

angered by the Boston Tea Party and passed the Intolerable Acts.

• The Boston Harbor was closed until colonists paid for the lost tea

• Colonists had to let British Redcoats live with them and feed them, too.

• These new laws were supposed to bring order, but they just made Colonists more upset.

• These new laws went against many traditional rights enjoyed by the Colonists.

THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

• 56 delegates (representatives) from all of the colonies except Georgia discussed how best to respond to the situation in Boston.

• They agreed to boycott British goods, but warned local militia (volunteer army) to be ready to fight.

• The delegates sent King George III ten resolutions, called the Declaration of Rights.

• This Declaration included the right to “life, liberty, and property.”

• If the King didn’t agree to these Declarations, the delegates would meet again in May of 1775.

THE START OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR: THE “SHOT

HEARD ROUND THE WORLD”

• Tensions remained high in Boston.• Nearby militia called themselves “minutemen” because they

were ready to fight any minute.• In April 1775, new Massachusetts governor, Thomas Gage,

decided to take away the “minutemen’s” weapons.• The Sons of Liberty learned of this and 70 minutemen met the

Redcoats just outside of Boston.• No one knows who fired the first shot, but soon this “Shot Heard

Round the World” was fired and eight Colonists were killed.• The Redcoats continued on to get the weapons, but the weapons

were already moved.• Colonists would fire upon the Redcoats on their return march to

Boston.• 250 Redcoats were killed on their return and 100 Colonists were

killed.• The American Revolution has now begun! (April 19th, 1775)